3 popular must-to-visit destinations near Ho Chi Minh City for foreign tourists

Ba Den Mountain - "The Highest Peak in Southern Việt Nam". (Photo: Tran Tuan Viet)

HCM City - It only takes 1-2 hours to get to these following destinations by car from Ho Chi Minh City. These diverse and vibrant places are not only popular among international tourists but also worth visiting for those who want to explore the cultural and historical beauty of the Southern region.

Ba Den Mountain - Tay Ninh province

It is only two hours’ drive away from Ho Chi Minh City to Tay Ninh. Tay Ninh is mostly famous for the sacred Ba Den mountain, which is known as one of the sacred sites of Vietnam, and also associated with a system of ancient temples and magnificent spiritual constructions on the mountain peak.

Ba Den mountain has the highest altitude in Southern Vietnam of 986 meters and the majestic scenery, which is known as "The First Celestial Mountain". This is a popular healing destination for its cool climate having Dalat vibes in the Southeast region and a vibrant flower paradise blooming throughout all four seasons on the mountain peak. Coming to this mountain, tourists will be able to experience the sense of tranquility and the feeling of shelter while admiring the temples associated with the legend of Linh Son Holy Mother - a sacred monument in the spiritual life of Southern people.

What makes Ba Den mountain famous for a large number of domestic as well as international tourists is the presence of unique spiritual monumental constructions in the region and in the world. At the highest peak of Ba Den Mountain, there exists the 72m-tall Tay Bo Da Son Buddha statue which was casted from over 170 tons of red copper. It was recognized by the Guinness World Records as the tallest bronze Buddha in Asia at the summit of a mountain. The photo of Tay Bo Da Son Buddha statue standing amidst clouds enveloping the "roof of Southern Vietnam" has won a prestigious global photography contest, making Ba Den Mountain a coveted destination for the global community.

Maitreya Bodhisattva Statue. (Photo: Nguyen Minh Tu)

Located on the peak of Ba Den Mountain, the giant Maitreya Bodhisattva Statue stands 36 meters tall, weighing 5,112 tons. This impressive sculpture is composed of 6,688 natural sandstone blocks. Each of these selective stones is carefully checked for color, veining, and precise dimensions before being sculpted inspired by terraced fields. The meticulous construction process easily reminds people of the way the ancient Egyptians built the pyramids, making Ba Den Mountain a must-visit destination for many people in their lifetime.

Beside the magnificent Buddhist architectural masterpieces, Ba Den Mountain is also a sacred cultural destination. Particularly, the lantern offering ceremony on every evening Saturday is a signature ritual with its own distinctive mark. Tourists have chances to receive complimentary lanterns and write down their wishes on the lanterns, and join the crowd in practicing the traditional rituals of lighting, offering, and releasing lanterns on a magical water flowing around the Prajnaparamita pillar. Thousands of lanterns lighting up the virtual mountain looks like sparkling stars at the intersection of the earth and sky, creating an extremely unforgettable magical and sacred experience for tourists to Ba Den Mountain.

Tan Lap Floating Village - Long An

Located about 100 km far from Ho Chi Minh City , Tan Lap Floating Village is an attractive destination for tourists to explore the unique beauty of the Mekong Delta. The vast and picturesque landscape with the refreshing and pleasant atmosphere, not only attracts international tourists but also appeals to young people seeking a weekend getaway.

Tan Lap Floating Village. (Photo: dulichsolongan.vn)

The reason behind the name of “floating village” is because this 135ha area is flooded all year round, so people have to build houses on high mounds to avoid being flooded. When the water rises, the floor is also raised in accordance with the water level. Today, this place is no longer inhabited since this village has been in the urban planning process to become an eco-tourism site.

The floating season is on the way (from August to December), this is the most beautiful time of the year for tourists to enjoy the picturesque and peaceful beauty of Tan Lap floating village with fields of lotus flowers, water lily flowers, and the lush green of the mangrove forests.

Some fascinating activities here are taking a motorboat through the melaleuca forest, paddling a three-leaf boat to see the flooded rice fields, and cycling through the melaleuca forest to explore the diverse flora and fauna…

Cu Chi Tunnels

Located about 70 km to the northwest of Ho Chi Minh City, Cu Chi Tunnel is so popular for the legendary histories of the Vietnamese military and people that international tourists pay attention to.

Cu Chi Tunnels. (Photo: vietnamtourism.gov.vn)

The tunnel is a miniature version of the transformative and creative battlefield map of Cu Chi soldiers and people during the 30-year resistance war, making this place a unique wonder. 250 kilometers of winding tunnels spreading under the ground like spider's webs makes tourists feel like stepping into a matrix. The "backbone" of the tunnels is divided into numerous different branches, along with many interconnected structures such as bunkers, fighting positions, dining and sleeping areas, meeting rooms, living rooms, infirmaries, food storage rooms, water wells, and the Hoang Cam kitchen…

Along with numerous historical sites in Ho Chi Minh City such as Independence Palace, Southern Central Office (Tay Ninh), Phu Quoc Prison…, Cu Chi Tunnel is considered as an unmissable destination to discover the history, the creation and the resilience of the Vietnamese people during the war./.